Augustus Road

When the soldiers refused to remain loyal to him, Julius Caesar put an end to the mutiny with a single word: "quirites."

Luculas was a little confused. He felt that he had been tricked and treated as a lowly slave. Born into a noble family, he was really favored by the gods. He used his eloquence on political opponents and his strategy on battlefield enemies. But he never seemed to know that a personal slave was actually connected with the conspiracy that framed him. together.

"Demetrius, my son, tell me, why did you do this? Have I treated you badly? Your annual salary is four thousand drachmas, while Calabis only has three hundred drachmas. I still I hope I can take you back to Rome to help treat my brother Marcus' condition. At that time, I would not hesitate to pay you an annual salary of 10,000 drachmas." Luculas' tone was a little painful.

The Jew's big eyes flashed twice. He was obviously a little embarrassed, but he still answered Luculas's question: "Yes, you didn't do anything bad to me. It's just that my behavior was to express , my greater value is that I am proficient in rhetoric and law, and should have a greater future, instead of ending my life as a herbalist. Pompeo sent someone to negotiate with me secretly in advance. I will not follow you back to Rome. I will stay with Pompey as a confidential slave, drafting documents for him and advising on military affairs. Then, when I appear at the great triumph, I will become the most important person in Rome. The most powerful and wealthy slave."

Hearing this, Pompey proudly raised his robe, "Yes - I have to say, Luculas, you are a born noble, you always mistakenly think that you are good enough to the lower class, but I Let me tell you, you can’t just give away rewards to the lower class – you also have to listen to their little dreams.”

It could be seen that Luculas was extremely angry. He was very angry and severely reprimanded Demetrius for violating the sacred contractual relationship between masters and slaves in the Roman world. He would definitely not end well in the future. As a result, the impatient Demetrius shouted, "You are no longer my master, and you have lost your power. Even if you still have a wealth that is unparalleled, it will not inspire you." I have no desire to serve you." After saying that, he stood beside the proud Pompey and Triali.

"Okay, Pompey, I admit that I lost in this round of confrontation. But I still have to thank you. You made me see a lot of things and a lot of people clearly." Luculas slowly regained his composure. He let out a sigh of relief and said, "However, I have to advise you, Honorable General Pompey. Now that I have indeed lost my power, even if I get rid of the accusations in the future, I will only be able to live in a manor and villa. My life may be a Tokugawa style. Comedy - it starts with a bang and ends with a dull ending. However, I still gave Rome a bad start, that is, people like you, Pompey, will think that as long as you have three or five legions, you can defeat the other most powerful people like me. A powerful force to gain great honor and benefits for itself, but in the end, such behavior will destroy you and our republic.”

After speaking, Luculas turned around and was about to leave. Pompey stopped him and stretched out his hand, "Luculas, from a standpoint, I shouldn't shake hands with you; but I can't deceive you." My own thoughts, yes, you are indeed one of the greatest generals in the history of Rome. I am proud to shake hands with you." Luculas looked at Pompey for a while, smiled, and quickly talked to him. Shake hands...

Three days later, Luculas officially left the military camp. Even though in the past few years, he had led three legions and created miraculous feats one after another, there were few soldiers in the entire camp to see him off. , he was also burdened with the accusations he would face when he returned to Rome in the future. This is how this distinguished general and former consul left sadly. He was followed only by his own three hundred armed slaves and freemen, among whom Calabis and Poti were also among them. In addition, there were hundreds of men who had been promised to the winter camp in advance, and there were also three regiments. The previously captured Scythian doctor Timotheus. Before leaving, Demetrius came to see him off and said to Calabis:

"Why don't you listen to my advice and come to Pompey's side to engage in a promising career? Don't you know that people like Pompey have gained incomparable achievements just in the previous war to suppress pirates? With unparalleled wealth and honor, once he conquers Pontus and Armenia, he will become a figure standing at the top of the entire Rome, and we will also be able to ascend to heaven. At that time, you will not have to worry about money, villas, or even senators and families. The knights will all grovel in front of you, just because you can put in a good word for them in front of their master.”

Calabis didn't know how to face this Jew now. Maybe they were still friends in personal terms, so he confided his feelings: "However, everyone understands that Pompey did ingest what should belong to Luculas’ honor. Besides, I just want to have a stable life with Poti.”

It's best, the Jew patted Calabis on the shoulder and said: "Don't try to fill a sandbag full of holes - there is no such thing as a stable life in Rome, believe me , friend." After saying that, Demetrius insisted on giving Calabis a money bag, which contained two hundred drachma silver coins. "Whether you are going well in Rome or not, don't forget Demetrius and The friendship between you, Calabis.”

Should I believe the Jewish man? In the bustling team carrying luggage, Carabis looked at Potti who was holding his hand next to him, and couldn't help feeling a little confused: What will be waiting for him in Rome?

However, Carabis doesn't have to worry too much about money for the time being. Last time, he and Kelly seized the crown discarded by the Armenian king of kings, Tegrenes, and were rewarded with 500 drachmas. But later, because he belonged to the legion, according to convention, he handed over half of the reward to the public treasury. Together with what he had received before, what Potti had saved before, and the money given by Demetrius, there were a total of 500 silver drachmas in the woman's money box, equivalent to nearly 2,000 sesterces, which was equivalent to the annual salary of the legion soldiers for nearly ten years.

Before, when he and Boti were lying on the bed in the tent and counting their small "property", he would also ask Boti about the CPI of the classical world. The conclusion was that the money was enough for them to rent a mid-range, solid studio apartment with a water pipe and a kitchen in Rome, and they would not have to worry about food and drink for two years.

Luculas did not choose to return from the port of Cilicia through the Cyprus sea route, because he claimed that he was full of disgust and hatred for Pompey, and he was unwilling to sail in the sea where Pompey witnessed the honor of exterminating pirates. He would rather go north to Bithynia, and then pass through Samothrace and Helisbon, land in Byzantium, and then cross the Greek land, and return to Rome from the port of Epirus.

Because of this, Luculas' team and Hebrida's team to the winter camp were on the same path again.

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